Founded on the shore of Lake Nicaragua in 1524, Granada (pop. 89,000) is the oldest city in Nicaragua, though its rival, Leon, was established later the same year. It’s worth a visit to see its colonial architecture, much of which is being restored thanks to funding from Spain. To get a look at the town, you can rent one of the horse-drawn carriages that cost about US$10 an hour. The Convento de San Francisco is a museum complex that displays festival masks and a rare collection of basalt statuary that was discovered on an island in Lake Nicaragua. The statues are believed to be more than 2,000 years old.

Granada is usually seen as a day trip from Managua, but there are several other attractions in the area. San Juan de Oriente is a small town with the country’s best pottery workshop. A lagoon, Laguna de Apoya, is nearby, though you’ll have to travel some distance from San Juan de Oriente to get access to the water. Snorkeling and diving are possible there. Las Isletas is an archipelago of hundreds of small islands in Lake Nicaragua that offer good opportunities for bird watching. The islands are accessible by a short boat ride from Granada. The Mount Mombacho volcano is also nearby and has recently been designated a national park. Vehicles provide transportation up the mountain, which is often enveloped by clouds. The mountain’s dwarf cloud forest ecosystem is home to lots of humming birds and orchids. Granada is 30 mi/50 km southeast of Managua.